Austin vs Fort Wayne
Cost of Living Comparison · 2026 Data
Austin
Fort Wayne
💡 The Verdict
Fort Wayne is 8% cheaper than Austin overall. A $75,000 salary in Austin is equivalent to $68,692 in Fort Wayne.
Category-by-Category Breakdown
Index values for Austin (left) vs Fort Wayne (right). National average = 100.
Detailed Price Comparison
Estimated item-level prices in Austin versus Fort Wayne. Differences shown from Austin perspective.
| Item | Austin | Fort Wayne | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Bed Rent | $1,280/mo | $910/mo | +$370.00 |
| 2-Bed Rent | $1,700/mo | $1,230/mo | +$470.00 |
| 3-Bed Rent | $2,180/mo | $1,580/mo | +$600.00 |
| Bread (loaf) | $2.33 | $2.95 | $-0.62 |
| Milk (gallon) | $4.02 | $3.59 | +$0.43 |
| Eggs (dozen) | $2.51 | $3.03 | $-0.52 |
| Coffee (latte) | $5.16 | $4.93 | +$0.23 |
| Gas (gallon) | $3.41 | $3.42 | $-0.01 |
| Restaurant Meal | $14.80 | $14.16 | +$0.64 |
💰 Salary Equivalence
A $75,000 salary in Austin has the same purchasing power as $68,692 in Fort Wayne.
Conversely, $75,000 in Fort Wayne equals $81,888 in Austin.
💼 Take-Home Pay Comparison
Estimated annual take-home pay on a $75,000 salary after federal, FICA, and state income taxes.
The $2401 difference is driven by Indiana having a higher state income tax rate. Texas details → · Indiana details →
Reading These Numbers: Austin (107) vs Fort Wayne (98)
Austin at 107 is 7% above the US average, while Fort Wayne at 98 is 2% below average. The cost difference between these cities is relatively modest.
In Austin, the composite index of 107 reflects a weighted calculation where housing carries the most influence at 123, followed by groceries (96), utilities (97), transportation (102), and healthcare (97). Housing is the primary cost driver here.
For renters: With median rents of $1,700/mo in Austin and $1,230/mo in Fort Wayne, the annual rent difference is approximately $5,640.0. Over a 5-year period, that compounds to $28,200.0 in savings by choosing the more affordable city.
For homebuyers: The $128,000.0 difference in median home prices between Austin and Fort Wayne translates to meaningful differences in mortgage payments at current rates. Factor this into your budget alongside property taxes and insurance, which also vary by location.
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Making Your Decision: Austin vs Fort Wayne
Choosing between Austin and Fort Wayne involves more than just comparing index numbers. Consider how each category aligns with your personal spending patterns. If you work from home, transportation costs matter less than housing and utilities. If you eat out frequently, the groceries index may understate your actual food spending — look at the restaurant meal prices in the detailed comparison table above instead.
The cost gap between Austin and Fort Wayne reflects thousands of individual pricing differences across housing markets, grocery chains, utility providers, and healthcare networks. No two households experience the same effective cost of living even in the same city, which is why the category breakdown matters more than the headline number. Adjust the lifestyle weighting sliders above to see how your spending priorities shift the comparison between these specific metros.